Tag Archives: Cross Bay Diner

A popular Howard Beach eatery was the scene of a shootout between a federal agent and a suspect Monday night, according to a published report.

A task force, consisting of NYPD officers, Homeland Security and the FBI were at the Cross Bay Diner at about 11 p.m., trying to nab four people, the New York Post said.

At some point, the officials and suspects ended up in the parking lot of the Cross Bay Boulevard restaurant and shots were exchanged, the Post reported. Though it wasn’t immediately clear who fired first.

Three of the individuals were taken into custody and one man is still at large, according to the paper.

Police confirmed authorities are still looking for a suspect following a multi-agency narcotics task force operation involving Homeland Security at the diner Monday night.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his 30s, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans.

The Cross Bay Diner reopened on Friday, May 24 after being closed nearly seven months due to Sandy damage.

The diner’s reopening marks another step forward for the community as fewer businesses remain shuttered due to the storm.

Michael Siderakis, the owner of Cross Bay Diner, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Councilmember Eric Ulrich and community members Frances Scarantino and Frank Gulluscio cut the ribbon to mark the popular eatery’s reopening.

As the days and months since Sandy tick by, businesses in south Queens are rising from the rubble and returning to normalcy.

There was “paws” for applause on Saturday, April 27 as the Howard Beach Petco reopened. It had closed six months ago due to damage from Sandy.

Animals both big and small—all the way down to crickets—were evacuated before the storm, according to general manager Victor Aponte. He regularly communicated with his corporate affiliates. They decided to move the animals and their habitats to other locations in Queens and Brooklyn.

By the time flood waters from Sandy had ebbed back into Jamaica Bay, Petco and many other Cross Bay Boulevard businesses were considerably damaged. Aponte said floors had to be ripped up and the whole shop was inspected for mold.

Before the storm, there were 15 staffers at Petco, many of them living in the community. They were not only worried about damage to their homes and properties. They also had concerns about their jobs. However, staffers were relocated to other stores in Utica and College Point.

Now that the store has reopened, staff and community members couldn’t be happier, Aponte said.

Shoppers and their four-legged friends came to the store all day Saturday, making use of special bonuses and grabbing giveaways.

Rich Naimoli of Ozone Park said he had been shopping at another pet store on Cross Bay Boulevard, but it did not compare to the variety and help at Petco. He added that he and his wife, who own three dogs, were thrilled the Howard Beach pet shop was up and running again.

“I’m just happy they’re back,” Naimoli said.

Aponte said while Petco was part of a corporate chain, he and the staff have tried to make it a community place where residents can get one-on-one help. There are now 17 staff members in all. The reopening, he said, was another step toward normalcy half a year after Sandy devastated the area.

“It’s just exciting to get the neighborhood back to where we were before the hurricane,” Aponte said. “We really feel we’re a neighborhood store.”

According to State Senator Joseph Addabbo’s office, eight businesses are still closed on Cross Bay Boulevard. Some were able to bounce back just weeks after floodwater caused thousands of dollars worth of damage. For others, it’s been a major struggle.

It remains to be seen whether 7-Eleven and Jennifer Convertibles will reopen, However, Cross Bay Diner is slated to come back.

Joe DeCandia, owner of Lenny’s Clam Bar, was back in business less than a month after the storm. He worked practically around the clock on repairs. Now, he said, the popular eatery along with most of the boulevard is in good shape.